Somba-Siawari

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A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3
bmu
Alternate Names
Bulum, Burum, Burum-Mindik
Autonym
Mindik, Somba-Siawari
Population

10,000 (2000 census). 5,500 Somba, 4,500 Siawari. 1,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 11,000.

Location

Morobe province: Finschhafen district, Central Huon peninsula, Lae south of Cromwell Range, Burum river valley and west slopes of Kuat river; scattered in Port Moresby. 30 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Trans-New Guinea, Finisterre-Huon, Huon, Western
Dialects

Somba, Siawari. Lexical similarity: 92% with dialects.

Typology

SOV; postpositions.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Kâte [kmg], Tok Pisin [tpi].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 80%–90%. 7,000 can read it, 6,000 can write it. 7 community schools. Taught in secondary schools. Dictionary. NT: 1996.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Somba-Siawari
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

‘Bulum’ is the Kâte [kmg] name for the Burum area. Christian, traditional religion.

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